by James Witherite, Vernon
Downs racing media
Jersey Boy, UF Bettors Hanover take Vernon co-features
Vernon, N.Y. -- A pair of $6,500 upper-level conditioned events--one for trotters, one for pacers--headlined the Memorial Day (May 25) program at Vernon Downs, with Jersey Boy ($4.40) and UF Bettors Hanover ($16.40) proving best on their respective gaits.
The Turn N Burn Stable's Jersey
Boy made an early push to the lead in the trotting feature, but was rebuffed by
McKenzie's Star (Fern Paquet, Jr.) through a :27.3 first quarter. The two
battled side-by-side for the majority of the race, until Jersey Boy pushed
clear in the final eighth, drawing off by three lengths for a 1:54.4
triumph. My Buddy Hall Lee (Roman Lopez) stayed on from the pocket to
take third.
Josh Kinney drove the
6-year-old Yankee Glide gelding for trainer Jessica Okusko.
UF Bettors Hanover ($16.40)
sprung a mild upset in the afternoon's pacing feature, swinging three-wide off
dueling leaders A Fool For Mark (Dustin Ingraham) and Lilys Real Boy (Fern
Paquet, Jr.) en route to a 1-1/4 length win. The 5-year-old Bettor's
Delight gelding sprinted clear of the late-closing Relentless Dreamer (Brian
Connor) for a 1:51.4 victory in rein to Justin Huckabone.
Trainer Scott West co-owns UF
Bettors Hanover with Katie Currie.
Live racing returns at Vernon
on Friday (May 29) evening, with first post scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Eastern
time.
